Long-Term Care: No One Wants to Talk About It

JANUARY 31, 2014 -- Allan Hancock College Community Education is pleased to announce
a new class about a topic that is important but often difficult to talk about – Long-term Care: Myths & Reality.

“No one wants to believe that living longer eventually might require help in doing
some of the basic activities of daily living,” says instructor Stacy Sherwood, a self-employed
financial advisor who doesn't like to think about getting older either. “But statistics
show you have a 40 or higher percent chance of needing that type of care once you
are over age 65. In fact, people are 10 times more likely to need long-term care
than to need help because of home fires or car crashes.”

People can protect themselves from this situation, Sherwood stresses. However; most
people do not prepare or even talk about home and long-term care needs until it is
too late.

“Locally, long-term care costs are about $200 - 300 a day, with an average stay of
two to two and-a-half years, she says. “Some people might get these services free;
Medicare pays a limited amount and medical insurance pays very little, if any.”

Topics of discussion in the Long-term Care: Myths & Reality class include methods of reducing the emotional and financial drain placed on the
family; how to be financially prepared; learning how to prepare a personalized, long-term
care plan with the goal of staying in your own home (Sherwood calls it anti-long term
care); protecting one’s assets; and most importantly, not being a burden on one’s
family. Students will be able to put this information to work immediately.

Register online at www.hancockcollege.edu for CRN (course number) 41606. This is a Community Service/Fee-based class and is
listed as CSPD 8045 in the class subject area. Students may also receive registration
assistance in person at Community Education (bldg. S) on the Santa Maria campus. View
the spring 2014 Spectrum schedule of Community Education classes for admissions and
registration information online, or pick up a print copy at all campus locations.